Signal-buoy and lifting device for sunken submarine boats.



No. 861,795. PATENTED JULY 30, 1907. I

E. L. BENSON. SIGNAL BUOY AND LIPTING DBVIGE FOR SUNKEN SUBMARINE BOATS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5, 1906.

3 SHEBT$-SHBET 1.

ll/www/essea' I Mwawfiaw We W4 W M 92M g MI M M N0. 861.7%. PATENTED JULY 30, 1907- J E. L. BENSON. SIGNAL BUOY AND LIPTING DEVICE FOR SUNKEN SUBMARINB BOATS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IIIIII 1%. 861,795. fP TENTED JULY 30, 1907.

E. L. BENSON; SIGNAL BUOY AND LIFTING DEVICE FOR SUNKEN SUBMARINE BOATS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

,4 ,4/ /p f// r f 40 ilhllifED 'S'EAES EDWARD L. BENSON, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA. v

SIGNAL-RUDY AND LIFTING DEVICE FOR SUNK'EN SUBMARXNI'E EQATH.

lspecification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 30, 1.907.

Application filed November 5,1906. Serial No. 341,985-

I To all whom it may concern:

\ signal for help. It is very important in the event of such an accident to have means provided whereby there-may be given not onlya signal that the boat is sunken and 'in distress, but also definite information as to where it is located, the boat itself being out of sight beneath the water. A inere sound signal is not sulficicntly definite as to location because submarine sounds can be located only with difficulty, if at all. A visible sigliial'is much more easily and quickly discovered and more accurately fixes the location. It is also ant that after the location is determined there maybameans'ot' communication established between I the rescuers andthe occupant-s of the submarine boat;

also ineans for raising the boat and means for supplying fresh an to the imprisoned occupants during the inter -val before the boat is brought to the surface.

The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus whereby, first, the occupants of thesuhken boat may cause to be display ed above the surface of the water a visible signal of distress which. shali'also reveal to anyone seeing thesignal the location of the boat or the spot beneath which the boat is lying; second, to provide means whereby the rescuers and the occupants of the disnblcd'submarine boat may communicate.

with each other; third, to furnish fresh air to the imprisoned occupants; and fourth, to lift the submarine boat to the sin of the water.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a signal buoy which is normally carried in a suitable seat on top of the submarine boat near'the honning tower and is controlled by mechanism which is operated from within the conning tower to'releasc it whendesired. flhis buoy carries .clcctric lamps of suitable color for signaling. The buoy has attached thereto a line or rope of light- Weight relative to the cable for hoist-ing'the boat;

and of sufiicient length to permit, the buoy to rise to the suriace from any depth to which the siibinarine boat is at all likely todescend. For convenience of designstion, this rope will be referred to asthe buoymope.

There is an electric cable which is connected at one end with the said electric lamps and isconnected at its other end with a generator in the su'bmarine'boat, whereby after the buoy has reached the surface, the lamps may be lighted for use in signaling. Besides the electric'light cable, there is another electric cable which connects to a buizer in the submarine by'which signals are sent from the rescuers to those confincdih the boat, while those in the boat canLsignal to thyia rescuers by proper flashing of the lights. There is pro rid'etj a hoisting cable or wire rope, one end of which is connected with the boat, the other end being connected-with the said buoy rope. After the buoy has reached the surface,

the rescuers and the occupants of the submarine, the res cuers may haul in the buoy rope until the upper end of the hoisting cable comes to the surface, and the hoisting paratus on the rescuing boat to raise the submarine to the surface. There is also provided an air tube, one end of which opens into the conning tower or into the compartment occupied by the crew, and thcothor end is attached to the hoisting cable or buoy rope, and will be lifted to the surface vtherewith when. the rescuers pull on the buoy ropeand the upper-sud of the air tube rains for supplying air through the tube tothc submarine. There is also provided an emergency block connccted with the boat by a short cable of still greater strength than the hoisting cable above mcn'tio nei thc and after communication has been established between cable may then. be connected to a capstan or other ap-,

can then be connected with suitable pumping appasaid block being intended for use if the first described constructed with engaging projections that a large hawser with a bowline put in it may be let down from the marine.

The invention will be fullynnderstoodfrom the following description takenfin connection with th'hccompanying drawings, and the novel features are pointed out and clearly defined in the claims at the close of the specification. I

In the .drawings,l igurel isa side elevation oi a apparatus embodying my invention, the buoy and cables and lines bsingstowed away in atanlr nearthe conning tower as it'will be when not in operation. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional. view of the tanlnin which the buoy and cables are stuwcd away aud o)". the releasing lever connected therewith from the interior of the coming tower. Fig. 3- is a side elevation showing the buoy floating on the surface oithe water after it has been released from the tanh and has risen to the surface and before the small line lrasbeen up to lift the hoisting cable. Fig. his a side elevation showing the apparatus in the position after the smaillins has been all hauled up to bringthe end of the hoisting cable to the suriaceand carrying with it also the air hose and portion of the top of a submarine boat equipped'with I showing the emergency cable and block, the top oithe hoisting cable is not sufiiciently strong to stand the strain of lifting the boat, the emergency block being so rescuing boat, the bowlino slipping along I over the srnaller cable as a guide and made to engage with said emergency block, power then. being applied through said large hawser from the rescuing boat to lift/the subboat being partly broken away to show the buzzer and the generator and electric connections for operating the buzzerand the lights. Figffi is a diagranrillus tinting the electric apparatus and connections. Fig.

(i is an enlargedxlctail of the buoy partly in section.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional detail showing the lamps and casing therefor and connection with the buoy,

S is a detailshmving the manner in which the releasing lever is connected with the buoy.

Referring now to the drawings,-l represents the upper portion of a submarine boat equipped with my apparatus. a portion only being shown which is suiti- Fig.

cient to illustrate the invention.

'2 is the conning tower, and 3 is a tank in which the buoy and cables are stowed away for protection to be ready for use when required.

The buoy 5 may be of any suitable shape to conform to the requirements of the most adaptable place in which to put it, and is preferably made of cork or sheet steel. The cork buoy,'ho\\'ever, is best owing to its lightness in carrying power and owing to the fact also that it is not so liable to be destroyed and sunk when struck by. any vessel. If made of cork, it is preferably covered with well tarred canvas 5t; to prevent chafe and wear.- It is also preferably bound by steel vet'- tical hoops 6 to add to its strength and stability.

'lhrou'gh the buoy a steel tithe 7 is titted to be a conduit for a double conductor electric cable 8 leading through it and havingbranches 8t and 82 which lead tome signal lanterns or lamps 5), l0, respectively, which are secured to the top of the buoy in suitable manner, preferably one above the other. While I have mentioncd two lamps or lanterns, the number may be either one, two or more. 1 have mentioned two, however. because two is-in niyopinion best for this purpose, one being red and one being white. Preferably these will be 32 candle power electric lamps titted with red and white shades ll, t2, respectively. These lights may be used to signal with by using the American wigwag or the Morse code in the transmission-of signals to the surface. Of course it is understood that any other system may be used if desired. Under the well recognized system of signaling, the upper light will be a red light and the lower light a white light. They are all inclosed in a glass casing so that the light from I the lamps may be seen through the casing. A metal partition 14 separates the compartment within which the red light. is contained from that in which'the white light is contained, so that the lights will notbe confused. The lamp it) will be screwed into a suitable socket in this partitionipla'te l4, andthe lamp 9 is screwed into a suitable socket in the 'base' 1-5 of the casing. The casing 13 is secured'by bolts 16 to a flange or plate 1.7

which screws/onto the upper end of the steel conduit tube 7. Surrounding the glass casing 13 which incloses'the lamps is a wire basket 18 to protect the glass.

7 Below the flange 1.7 and surrounding the steel tube 7 is a stutfing box 19. The lower end of the steel tube 7 is threaded to receive a flange or plate 20 similar to the flange or plate 17 On the inner face of the flange plate 20 and surrounding the steel tube 7 is a stutfing box 21. 'lhis flange plate 20 has secured to its under side two open lugs 22 to receive the fork arms 23 respec-.

tively of the releasing bolt 24'. While the releasingbolt is shown as formed with fork arms, it is obvious that a single arm and a single .tug' would answer the purpose.

Secured to the lower end of the bony is a line "25 which may be of hemp and preferably as light as may be consistent with sutiicient strength to sustain the strain that is required inpulling up the hoisting cabl and is theline which as above stated will be referred to as the buoy rope. This line 25 is liest secured to the buoy by a bridle 251 which connects with eyes 26 Be enred to the undgr side of the flange plate 20.

Any suitable means may be provided for retaining the buoy normally on its seat and for releasing the same by operation from within the conning tower. Thenn ans shown consists of a forged steel shaft 24 which is forked at its outer end with two arms 23 which pass througlithe side of the tank 3 and engage with the lugs 22 as already described. In order to properly protect the fork arms 23 from being fouled by the cable when coiled, up, there are provided two steel hoodsAtOl, 410, secured to the bottom of the tank 3, one at each end of the lugs 22, said hoods forming additional locking means for the bolt. This shaft passes through a water tight stutling box 27 in the conning tower 2, and is provided' on its inner end with a handle 28 by which it may be readily operated. Outside the conning tower is a helicoid spring 29 surrounding the. shaft, one end of which abuts against the wall of the conning tower 2 and the other pnd of which abuts against a pin 39 which passes through the shaft 2%, the spring 29 normally lmldlllgtllt shaft in engagement with the lugs 22 on the 9 flange 20, thereby securely retaining the buoy in the tank. I i

To release the buoy, a strong pull must be given on the handle 28 of the releasing bolt 24, overcoming the tension of the spring 29 and pulling the arms 23 of the releasing bolt out of the lugs on the buoy. This allows the buoy to rise to the surface with its line 25 and elec* tric cable 8 which connects with the lamps 9 and 10,

and the double conductor cable 30, whose lower ends connect with the buzzer 32, the upper ends of cable 30 1 being adapted to actuate the buzzer 32 by an operator from above by bringing the two ends in. contact with each other after stripping the insulation from the ends,

or by connecting them with any suitable instrument. The upper ends of both leads of cable 30 are well insu- 1 0 I lated to normally prevent contactwith the water and with each other. This line 25 its-already described may be made of hemp. a 2 inch line being ordinarily sufficiently large, and probably for practical purposes a length of 150 feet will be sullicient. Securhd to the lower end of'the line 25 is a re hoisting cable 33 whose lowerend is connected. to ancinergency block 34 by a common shackle 35 having a swivel bolt 36 whichpasses through the block 341: the lower end of the bolt 36 being connected by a shackle 37 with the upper end 12 of another wire cableiiS, said cable 38 forming a part of v the bridle which is secured to the outer part of the subinarinc. The hoisting cable 33 may be of any size required for the work demanded of it, but; for practical purposes, probably a 2 inch type B wire rope will be sutllcient and will stand a st rain of about; 19,00Qponndsp The cable 38 should preferably be strong enough to stand a greater breaking strain than cable 33; for instance, a 1 inch wire cable which will stand a breaking strain of about 102,000 pounds, The cable 38 is relatively short, say about eight feet probably will he snxlieient, its lower end being connected with several slings 40 of heavy wire cable, preferably about the same size as the cable 38, the slings 40 being connected with the 5 hull of theeubmarine boat in any suitehle'rnenner, as for instance, by eye-bolts 41 to whichthe ends of the elings 40 are shackled, and the eliuge ii) being corn nected with the cable 38 in any suitable manner. The means shown consists of 2, large ring v42 which is elmcklcd to thecable 38, end this ring in tur 1 being connected withe number of smaller rings 43 to 2 ch the slings 40 are shackled It is obvious that the size of the cables will be determined by the size and weight of the boat to which the apparatus is fitted.

The electric wires 8 and 30 are stopped to the line 25 and to the hoisting cable 33 by rope yarn stops 44 so that the electric cables will be curried with the hoisting cable and rope. Ari air hose 45 is also stopped to the hoisting cable 33 loy stops 46, the upper end of the air hose projecting downward into the sulunnrine through water tight stu'fling hex and its upper end being closed with e, water tight Steel cap 54. This hose should be of suific'ient length so that when the upper end of the hoisting cable is'drawn to the surface, the

6 upper end oithe air hose can be conncctcdwith an air pump on the rescuing boat.

The emergency block 34 is provided with arms 47 so that if the circnmstancee render it desirable to have 1, hoisting cuble'of sti ""muter strength than cable 313 employed, the people on the rescuing bout may make use of a. still lergerhawscr or cable 48. By {orminga bowline in one end and allowing this to slip down over the line 25 and over the hoisting cable 33 'nntil it punsvs clown over the downwardly projecting arms 47 of'tlnemergency block and then by hauling upon the cable 48, the bowline may be made to engige with the arms 47,.

in Fig. 5 the electric wiringior both the laand the buzzer is diugrznnnmtically shown, 50 representing the dynamo or battery and 5 and 52 representing the 0 keys by which the circuit is made to turn onthc lights respectively in lamps 9 and 10. 4

The operation of the apparatus will he asiollowsz Supposing; the vessel to'he in distress when sun hen, the operator in the conning tower will pull the handle 28 of the releasing bolt 2-1, thereby relcasinglhe buoy 5, allowing the buoy to riseflo the surface of the Water 53, an Shown iii-Fig. 3, it being ntended that the line 25 Shall be of sniiicient length for-tho buoy-to reach the surface without uncoiling any part of the hoisting cable, hoisting cablebeing too heavy for the buoy to lift When the buoy first cornea to the surface, the i 15 and '32will be pressed to turn. on hoth the red w ll the white lights wl ich on the buoy will mean lllr of the submarine which shall be near When these lights are seen by the tender or vesoel, the propez: uuthorities ce'n he notiiicc and the necessary boat sent zo the scene. Wh

reseuersnrriv'e at the scene, the first thing they will do" s to pickup the buoy andolisconnect the electric cm at hand. 0n the bles from the Kiuoy line and haul in on both, cutiing the steps which connect inhe'linc and the electric (-11-- liler es the line and co'hles come to the surface. The ende of the electric conductors whichconncct with the buzzer will then bKfiilDlfiiillQllQd and the insulation re moved from the ends and the wires connected up with o key or just touched together and the necessary sig nttlfient to those below in the submarine telling them that help is at hand and asking for such advice an: only be necessary to assure their locution unti position'ontl thus the oecngmnts oi the submarine (5m give these in etiuction's 'thniugh different [lashing oi the ulvt'ii lights on the buoy by means of the keys in the connin, lower in manner WQll known.

c. 7 When ready to hoist up the bout the buoy rope is hanlosl up nntillho wire hoisting cable 33 come-i in sigliti Then this lloisiing cable 3-3 is mhfiib a cape-inn or my hr'iisting device on board the rewiring veser'l and a strain put upon it. Ii the weight of the snbinurine provcs to be loo much for the strength oi the wire hoisting: cable 33, then :1. large cable 48 with a large hawsor shou'iilibo.slipped around the cable .m and a bowlino put in it and ullowurl to slip down under the projecting arms 47 of the emergency block 34. The upper; end oi this hvnyy cable 48 can then be taken to another copstun and by operating both copetzms both the cable 33 and the cubic 48 Con be hove in on at the same time, The cincrgcncy block will readily take the strain of the cable z l nho loop 49 of the cabl must slip under mile or more of the extended arms 27, thus giving a great scope for purchase or ui'strong a pull as. n'iuy be needed to lift the sulnnerine. if the euhrnorine not filled with water. it should not take a very great pull to start her up, and the small cable 33 would he snfiicient; but 1'? tho boat were (ilk-(i, the additional hnwsor lowered un-- dcr the emergency block would readily lift her;

it securely z tteched to the emergency block before star, to l1 t The weight of the complete apparatus required will probably be about 35! pounds but it can be gm distributed as not to destroy the buoyancy or slubiiity of the boat. The heaviest port of the :ipparotno.

preferably he ,rter pressure will waldo es Wll n; eing open at i, The only g eyreieiieecl any time is from the inside the conning tower lay gt n the releasing There fore it is ulwziys liver to lower the large hzin'ser and get to the invention.

en signaling to but first mentioned iimtibic connection,

in the bottom to allow the water to run out when the submarine comes to the surface.

i claim as my invention:

i. in combination with a submarine boat. a lipid buoy, a long tlcxible connection, one end of which is connected with said limit, the other end of which is connected with one end of a second flexible connection of considerable greater hoisting strength than said tirst mentioned tlexiblc wninectlon, id tioat iiavim. a floating capacity sufticiont to lift with it said iirst tiexibie connection when the tloat rises to the surface of the water. said hcavtcr ticxible connection having its lower end connected with a short cable of still greater hoisting strength which isalso connected with said boat. an euu-rgency block connected with sfitid heavier cable and having hooks projecting therefrom and adapted to be engaged by the loop of an ,indt

pendent hoisting cable 'which slips down over said previously mentioned hoisting cables.

2. in combination with a submarine boat, a float buoy. a long-flexible connection between said buoy and boat. said buoy and attached iiexible connection bein; adapted to be stowed away on vthe boat. a signal device on said buoyea cage on the top at said boat to receive said buoy and flexible connection, an open lug: on the bottom of said buoy, a bolt which passes through the side of the connint tower and through the side of said cage and engages with said lug on the under side of the iioat. to normally retain said iloat within said cage, a handle on said heat whereby the same may be operated from within the conning tower to release the bolt from engagement with said lug and thereby releases the tloat and a hood which protectssaid bolt against agagement with the said flexible connections when coiled in said cage.

Si. in combination with a submarine boat, a iioatdntoy. a long: flexible connection, one cut! of which is connected with said buoy' and the other end of which is connected with a hoisting cable of considerable greater hoisllm: capacity than said first mentioned tiexihie connection, a bridle connect ltiiLltt'iWttii the ltl\\t!l.tii(1 of said hoisting cable and said boat, said iioat having sutiicient tloatint capacity to rise and carry to the-surfactoi the water said said llexlble connection being adapted to be hauled up from the surface of the water to then lii't one end of said hoisting cable to the surface, an electrically operated signal'mirricd by said that buoy. an electric cable connecting: said signal with lower the interior of said boat. means within the boat for oper:

ating through said electric cablc said electric signal at'ter' ,the iloat has risen tb the surt'aceot the water. a receptacle on the boat within which said Hunt and flexible connec- 1710115 and cables are normally stowed, means for normally holding said iloat within said receptacle and means wherebysaid tloat'may be released by the interior of llit! boat.

4. In combination with a submarine boat. a iloat buoy,

in long buoy line. one end of which is connetted with said buoy. the other end of which of a long lioisting' cable, said cable being of considerable eneater hoisting strength than said buoy line, said buoy having a tioatiiu. capacity sutlicient to lift with it said buoy line when the buoy rises to the. surface of the water, on emergency bloch having a swivel connection with the end of said cable; said emcrizency block having also is connected with one end Cit a swivel connection with a short cable of still greaterhoisting strength than said first cable. hooks projecting from said emergency blot-it adapted to be engaged by the loop of an iudcptl'udent hoisting cable. and a bridle con ncction between ,the lower end of said heavier hoisting cable and said boat.

5. in combination with a subimiriue boat. a tioat'lmoy. a long; buoy line. one end of which is connected with said buoy. the other end of which is connected with one end 'of a longhoisting cable, said cable being oi considerable greater hoisting strength than said buoy line, said buoy having a floating capacity sutiicieut to lift with it said buoy line when the buoy rises to thesurt'acc ol' the water. an emergency block having a swivel connection \flth'thc lower end ot' said cable, said emergency block having also a swivel conncctloniwith a short cable of still greater hoisting sire ,..th than said tirst cable. ,hoolts projecting from said emergency block adapted to be engaged by the loop of an independent hoisting cable, anda bridle connection between the lower end of said heavier' hoisting cable and said boat. said bridle comprising a plurality of cables. each flexibly connected at one end with the lower cnd'of said lowest hoisting: cable and spreadin apart and.

- 7 flexibly connected at their other ends with the boat.

ii. in combination with a submarine boat, a float buoy, a flexible connection between said buoy and boat, a pinrality of electric lamps mounted on said buoy. a casing of transparent material surrounding said lamps and attached to said buoy, andan opaque partition in said cns ing and dividing it into compartments within which said lninpsiare respectively mounted. 9

7. in combination with a submarine boat. a float buoy, a flexible connection between said buoy and boat,-a plurality otelectrlc lamps mounted on said body. a casing of transparent material surrounding said lamps and attached to said buoy, and an opaque partition in said casin and dividing it into compartments within which said lamps are respectively mounted and colored shades of an operator from within' translucent material for said lamps diiifering in color from each other,

S. in combination with a submarine boat, a float buoy, a iong tiexil le connection between said buoy and boat. a tube extending longitudinally through said buoy, a plate secured to the upper end of said tube, a transparent casing haviugn base which is secured to said plate, a partilion dividing said casing into two compartments one above the other, an electric lamp in the lower compartment. secured to a;socket in the base of the casingland an'elcetric lamp mounted in the uppercompartment of said cas- -i.n;.r, elcciriclcables connected with said 'lamps and passing through the tubular conduit in said buoy and thence to the interior of the boat. an electric generator within said boat and means connected therewith for controlling the lighting and extinguishing of said lamps,.and a plate securcd to the lower end of said buoy and to said tube. a cunning tower, a locking and releasing bolt passing through the side of theconning tower and engaging with lugs on said lower plate on the buoy whereb said buoy may be held on its seat or released therefrom by operation from within the conning, tower.

in testimony whereof I atfix of two witnesses.

Ell WARlLL. Bl NiONv Witness Y W inn-tn A. (germane A 'Ni n Titan.

my signature, in presence. 1515' 

